Built-in sound system for home



Jan. 28, 1958 E. E. SHAFFER 2,821,260

BUILT-IN SOUND SYSTEM FOR HOME Filed June 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fg i'A IN V EN TOR. Edward E Shaffec Jan. 28, 1958 E. E. SHAFFER 2,821,260

BUILT-IN SOUND SYSTEM FOR HOME Filed June 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVEN TOR. fawara E Shaffer.

A 7' TOE/V5715 United States Patent C BUILT-IN SOUND SYSTEM FOR HOME Edward E. Shatter, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Shatter Music Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 28, 1956, Serial No. 594,513

22 Claims. (Cl. 181-31) The present invention relates to built-in sound systems for homes and particularly to a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in wall structures.

The present apparatus constitutes an improvement in the Wall mounting apparatus for speakers disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 489,723 filed Feb ruary 21, 1955, now Patent 'No. 2,753,009, issued July 3, 1956.

When a speaker for a built-in sound system for a home is mounted within the wall structure during construction of the wall, such speaker, being of delicate construction, is in danger of being damaged by falling objects or careless workers. According to the present invention a novel wall mounting means is provided which includes a protective guard or housing for protecting the speaker when in a mounted position within the wall. Such guard is preferably formed integrally with the base or plaster ring that is secured to the frame members of the wall. The guard is also preferably provided with a sound absorbing inner surface to achieve efficient sound reproduction from the speaker notwithstanding the fact that the guard per se may be formed of structurally advantageous material, such as sheet metal, which possesses poor acoustical characteristics without the provision of an acoustically advantageous inner surface.

-It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel improved wall mounting means for a speaker which can be readily mounted to conventional wall structure, which provides a sturdy and accessible means for retaining the speaker in position and which protects the speaker from damage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel improved mounting means for securing speakers to wall structures which mounting means, although of simple and inexpensive construction, provides an attraction junction between the speaker and the finish of the wall structure and which also serves to protect the speaker from damage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wall speaker mounting apparatus that comprises a novel guard for protecting the speaker within the wall, which guard is integrally formed with a base portion that also serves as a plaster ring or end termination for other types of finish that may be applied to the wall.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a-wall speaker mounting apparatus that includes a novel speaker guard means formed of structurally advantageous material provided with acoustically desirable properties by the application of an interior cover or coating.

It isstill another object of the present invention to provide a wall speakermounting apparatus that includes a novel guard means adapted for the convenient connection of the speaker to a power supply by the admission of a power line through the guard means from any one of a plurality of directions.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be pparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein ice a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a novel speaker mounting means constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the section being taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the speaker mounting means of the present invention and showing such mounting means secured to a conventional wall structure;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a built-in sound system of the type in which the speaker mounting means of the present invention can be utilized; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a novel base member forming a plaster ring and guard means, said base member being constructed according to the present invention and comprising a portion of the speaker mounting means of the preceding figures.

Referring next to the drawings and particularly to Figure .1, a speaker mounting constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at 20 with such mounting means being supported by a vertical wall member 22 and horizontal wall members 23 and 24. The mounting means includes a base member indicated generally at 26 and a cover member indicated generally at 27. Cover member 27 include-s a grilled central portion 30 and is adapted to support a speaker 32 by means of a plurality of threaded fastenings 34 which extend through the cover member 27 and the mounting flange provided on the speaker.

Referring particularly to the base member 26, illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, such member includes a flange 36 adapted to overlie the frame members of the 'wall. A plurality of screws 38 serve to secure the base member 26 to such frame members. Base member 26 further includes an outwardly extending portion 40 which adjoins a flange 41 that extends substantially parallel to the inner flange 36. The outwardly extending portion 40 includes an outer surface 42 adapted to confront the edge of the finish 43 of the wall.

As best seen in Figure 5 base member 26 further includes a radially inwardly extending flange 41, an annular wall 62, and a rear wall 63. All of said portions can be integrally formed with previously mentioned portions 36 and 40 from a single piece of sheet metal by forming such metal in a suitable die or series of dies. Base member 26 further includes a plurality of knock-out plugs 66, preferably spaced peripherally around annular wall 62 at ninety degree intervals. One of the plugs has been removed in Figures 2 and 5 to form a hole 67 through which is received a power supply line for connecting speaker 32 with a source of electric current. Knockout plugs 66 may be formed by perforating annular wall 62 with arcuate slots 70 separated by uncut connecting portions 71, the latterbeing readily ruptured when a plug 66 is punched out to form a hole 67.

As seen in Figure 5; the outer flange 36 is provided with holes 74 for receiving the screws 38 that secure base means 26 to frame members 22, 23, and 24. The surface 41 includes holes 75 for receiving threaded fastenings 47 which fastenings may be utilized as a means for securing cover member 27 to base member 26.

As is illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 2, the. inner surfaces of annular wall 62 and rear wall 63 may practice, where base means 26 is fabricated of sheet I metal, for structural reasons. it has been found that the resulting sheet metal housing can be made acoustically desirable by spraying the inner surfaces of annular wall 62 and rear wall 63 with a self-hardening liquid coating comprising asbestos and tar. Such coating is represented at 65 in Figure 2. It will be understood that the inner surface of walls 62 and 63 can be made acoustically desirable in other ways Without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the walls 62 and 63 can be formed of or lined with a suitable sound absorbing material.

Referring again to the cover member 27, such member includes a central portion 46 provided with a plurality of holes through which are extended the threaded fastenings 47 which extend inwardly and engage the flange 42 of the base member 26. Hence it is seen that the cover member 27 and the speaker 32 supported thereby, can be readily and removably secured to the base member 26.

The cover member 27 further includes an inwardly extending flange 50 adapted to engage the outer surface of the finish 43 at a location radially outwardly from the junction of the surface 42 with the edge of the finish 43.

As seen in Figure 3, speaker mounting means is located on the wall structure by securing the base member to the vertical structural member 22 and the two horizontal structural members 23 and 24 whereby the speaker 32 extends rearwardly within the guard means formed by annular wall 62 and rear wall 63. Only the cover portion 27 and the centrally disposed grilled portion 30 are exposed to the interior of the room. As seen in Figure 3, a switch is provided with such switch being secured to one of vertical structural members of the wall at a convenient height.

Reference is next made to Figure 4 which schematically shows a plurality of the speaker mounting means 20 connected with a central sound source 57 such as radio or phonograph apparatus. Each of the speaker mounting means 20 supports a speaker 32 and can be located in a separate room, or at separate locations in a building, with each of such units being provided with an individual switch 55 and wires 59 and 60, which con nect the unit with a sound source remote from the unit and conveniently located in the building.

In operation, installation of the speaker mounting means 20 is made by first fastening the base member 26 to the rough structural members of the wall. The finish 43 is then secured to the structural members with such finish extending to the outer surface 42 on the base member 26. The cover member 27, with the speaker 32, can then be secured to the base member 26 without the necessity of drilling or in any Way altering the finish, since the threaded fastenings 47 need merely be screwed into gip'osed preformed holes provide-d in the base member In summary, it is seen that the present invention provides novel speaker mounting means, of simple and inexpensive construction, which is not only readily attachable to conventional wall structures, but which supports a speaker in a protected yet accessible manner.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in Walls, comprising, in combination a base member including a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the wall; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said cover member including an edge portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyond the edge of said finish, one of said members including a mount portion for mounting a speaker in said apparatus; guard means cafried by certain of said members for protecting a speaker supported by said apparatus; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said base member.

2. Apparatus defined in claim 1 characterized by said guard means including a coating forming a sound absorbing inner surface.

3. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base member including an open central portion and a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the wall; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member having a centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, said cover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of the well beyond the edge of said finish; mounting means on one of said members for securing a speaker thereto; speaker guard means carried by certain of said members; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said base member.

4. Apparatus defined in claim 3 characterized by said guard means including a sound absorbing inner surface.

5. Apparatus defined in claim 3 characterized by said guard means being integrally formed with said base member.

6. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base member including an open central portion and a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the Wall; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member having a centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, said cover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyond the edge of said finish; mounting means on one of said members for securing a speaker thereto whereby said speaker extends through said open central portion and confronts said grill means; speaker guard means carried by certain of said members; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said base member.

7. Apparatus defined in claim 6 characterized by said guard means including as'ound absorbing inner surface.

8. Apparatus defined in claim 6 characterized by said guard means being integrally formed with said base member.

9. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in Walls, comprising, in combination, a base member including an open central portion and a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the Wall; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member having a centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, said cover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyond the edge of said finish; mounting means on said cover member for securing a speaker thereto; speaker guard means carried by certain of said members; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said base member.

10. Apparatus defined in claim 9 characterized by said guard means including a sound absorbing inner surface.

11. Apparatus defined in claim 9 characterized by said guard means being integrally formed with said base member.

12. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base member including a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the wall; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said cover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyondv the edge of said finish; a pair of overlying flange means,

one on each of said members, disposed inwardly of the edge of said finish; speaker guard means carried by certain of said members; and means for securing said overlying flange means together subsequent to the mounting of said base member to the frame members and the application of the wall finish thereto.

13. Apparatus defined in claim 12 characterized by said guard means including a sound absorbing inner surface.

14. Apparatus defined in claim 12 characterized by said guard means being integrally formed with said base member.

15. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a combined base and speaker guard member including a first surface adapted to engage the framing members of the wall, a second surface extended outwardly to confront the edge of the finish of the wall, and a third surface extended inwardly to overlie a speaker mounted to the apparatus; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said cover member including an edge portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyond the edge of said finish, one of said members including a mount portion for mounting a speaker in said apparatus; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said base member.

16. Apparatus defined in claim 15 characterized by said third surface of said combined base and speaker member being covered with a sound absorbing material.

17. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a combined base and speaker guard member including an open central portion, a first surface adapted to engage the framing members of the wall, a second surface extended outwardly to confront the edge of the finish of the wall, and a third surface extended inwardly to overlie a speaker mounted to the apparatus; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member having a centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, said cover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge of said finish; mounting means on one of said members for securing a speaker thereto whereby said speaker extends through said open central portion and confronts said grill means; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said base member.

18. Apparatus defined in claim 17 characterized by said third surface of said combined base and speaker member being covered with a sound absorbing material.

19. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mounting remote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a combined base and speaker guard member including a first surface adapted to engage the framing members of the wall, a second surface extended outwardly to confront the edge of the finish of the wall, and a third surface extended inwardly to overlie a speaker mounted to the apparatus; fastening means for securing said base member to the framing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said cover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of the wall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge of said finish; a pair of overlying flange means, one on each of said members, disposed inwardly of said finish confronting outwardly extending surface; and means for securing said overlying flange means together subsequent to the mounting of said base member to the frame members and the application of the wall finish thereto.

20. Apparatus defined in claim 19 characterized by said third surface of said combined base and speaker member being covered with a sound absorbing material.

21. Apparatus defined in claim 1 characterized by said guard means including an annular metal wall provided with a plurality of spaced partially cut hole-forming portions adapted to be punched out to provide a hole for the entrance of a power supply line at various locations on said guard.

22. Apparatus defined in claim 15 characterized by said third surface being formed by an annular metal wall provided with a plurality of spaced partially cut holeforming portions adapted to be punched out to provide a hole for the entrance of a power supply line at various locations on said guard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,744 Canfield May 14, 1918 2,282,384 Schenck May 12, 1942 2,753,009 Shaffer July 3, 1956 

